Brussels, 14/11/2014 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 12 November, the president of the European Commission and his vice president, Frans Timmermans, wrote a letter to the Presidents of the European Parliament and Council of the EU, Martin Schulz and Matteo Renzi, in which they explain the projects they intend to carry out over the course of the next five years, according to reports by several different media sources.
The two politicians explained that they would need to work towards bringing citizens closer to the European project and to “advance with a clear sense of priorities”.
In a letter dated 12 November, the president of the European Commission also called for closer co-operation between the European institutions, in an effort for them to be able to send out a clear message. Improved cooperation and better targeting of the essential challenges, such as the economy and growth, are essential in this period of crisis and situation where unemployment is too high, explain Juncker and Timmermans.
The letter then illustrates the ten Commission priorities, with pride of place going to the relaunch of job creation, growth and investment. This strategy focuses on the adoption of a package for employment, and growth and investment, an assessment of the EUROPE 2020 strategy and improved regulation.
The second priority involves the “connected single digital market” (based on the adoption of a package for the single digital market and copyright reform).
In third place, the Energy Union, which involves ensuring the follow-up to the Energy/Climate package adopted in October in preparation of the EU's position for the Paris conference in 2015 and strengthening energy security.
The fourth priority focuses on a fairer and more comprehensive internal market, which is based on a more consistent industrial fabric. The proposals on the Union of Capital Markets, a definitive VAT system and measures to tackle fraud and tax evasion, are involved in this context.
In fifth position, we find the Economic and Monetary Union which is “fairer and more comprehensive” followed by, “a balanced and reasonable free trade agreement with the US”. Justice and fundamental rights are in the seventh place of priorities.
A “new immigration policy” and strengthening the EU on the international scene follow next.
The 10th priority consists in making the EU more democratic (a better decision-making mode on GMOs, an inter-institutional agreement on the compulsory transparency register…).
The Commission President and Vice-President also insist in this letter that the new inter-institutional agreement should be concluded before the end of the year. The idea is that the three institutions reach consensus on a multiannual programme that could be revised halfway through the mandate. They also suggest that “we could also meet twice a year” to discuss programme implementation. (SP)